Emotions About Selling Our Home

**forHISglory** · 01-15-2008, 11:02 AM

Jamauk posted about getting ready to build her log home, and it just brought back so many emotions for me. Thirty years ago, hubby and I built our home: a solar log cabin in the woods. It was our dream home designed just for our lifestyle. We raised our family in it, lived here while we established our careers, and have retired living here. Every room tells a story, and holds joy and sorrow and wonderment. I could walk thru this home blind, knowing every step.

But we have been touching it up and getting it ready to sell. We plan to move out of state when and if it sells. And tomorrow the appraiser is coming. Let me tell you, I just started to cry this morning, thinking about it. How can I leave here?

I set on my front porch during rain storms and hear the rain advancing through the woods. I watch the hummingbirds from my porch chair. I walk the trails in the woods and think of the children romping thru here on adventures.

How do you do it? As you can tell, I haven't moved about very much. For those of you who have moved and who have loved your homes, how did you handle the emotions of leaving? I really need your help in this as I'm a mess today just thinking of someone else living here. I even dream about it!

Thanks........

**stinkbug** · 01-15-2008, 11:10 AM

It is so hard! As I said before, your home is gorgeous and I don't know how you can leave it. The first house dh and I had together was nothing special, but we loved it so! I too had nightmares when we sold it! We only moved about 1.5 miles away, and we couldn't even drive by it....
Treasure those special memories and know that another family will be making memories there too. The thing we had to realize when we sold was....it's not ours anymore. New owners are allowed to make changes and make it theirs. I took us a few years to acutally settle into our new home and make it *ours*.

**frugalfarmwife** · 01-15-2008, 11:24 AM

It's not easy selling a home that you love, I still miss the old farm and the good memories there.

Think of it as a new start, new adventure, new beginning, in the new phase of your life.

kj

**sdrjeolsen** · 01-15-2008, 11:24 AM

I'm sorry. You have a beautiful place, it would be hard to leave. I've never been attached to a home we've lived in, we've always felt like it wasn't permanent. This is the first house we hope we will be in forever. Do you have to move?

**Katybird** · 01-15-2008, 12:35 PM

It is a beautiful home. Have you thought about scrapbooking your home. A different page maybe for each room with an essay about the special times that were experienced in that room. It would be something that you could reflect on in the coming years.

**frugalfriend** · 01-15-2008, 12:46 PM

Wow, your home is just gorgeous and I can see why it would be so hard to leave it. And the memories . . . ah, I so know how you feel! We had only been in our last house 9 years, but I dream about it and the time there often. It was time to go, but being the sentimental fool that I am, I do miss that old house! I miss our little porch, the huge pepper tree in the front yard with the tree swing, my 15 rose bushes lining the front yard

, the cul-de-sac where I watched my kids play out of the big front window, the diamond paned windows, sitting outside on warm summer nights visiting with the neighbors . . .

I knew leaving would bring so many good things though, that far outweighed the good things I would be leaving. We took lots of pictures and even videotaped the whole inside. We wanted the kids to remember that home. Take your time saying goodbye and I wish you blessings in your new adventure!

**Darlene** · 01-15-2008, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by Katybird

It is a beautiful home. Have you thought about scrapbooking your home. A different page maybe for each room with an essay about the special times that were experienced in that room. It would be something that you could reflect on in the coming years.

Great idea!

Thinking of just about any new change as an adventure is what helps me cope. Sure it won't be like it was but you will find joy in the new. Exciting times ahead, filled with all kind of possibilities.

**forHISglory** · 01-15-2008, 01:29 PM

You would not believe how much your posts are helping. To think of another family living and loving where we have lived and loved..... scrapbooking each room...... videotaping....... These are wonderful ideas.

In answer to "Do we have to move?": No, we don't. We are retired now and no longer tied to a job here. My elderly parents live out of state, back on the home farm, and are needing so much help now. We find ourselves on the road all the time trying to take care of them. All of our sibs and our kids and grandkids also live in the same area, and we'd love to be closer to them.

On the other hand, we have lived here for so long that it is home. We have wonderful friends here and are established with local businesses. With both of us being teachers, people of several generations know us. We both have part time teaching jobs here (just a couple per week), but do not possess a teaching license for the new state. Life is good here, and it's hard to leave all that.

And on still another hand,

we haven't put the house on the market yet, and who knows if it will sell in this economy? We're just leaving this up to the Lord to direct our paths. If it's meant to be, then it will work out.

Meanwhile, I had quite the pity party this morning thinking of the appraiser walking thru the house. Thanks for your encouragement and kind words.

**FrugalMomof3** · 01-15-2008, 01:41 PM

Your home is just beautiful but I can understand how you feel, well atleast slightly. I know when I move from my home now (which is my first purchased home) I will miss it dearly but I will be glad to move and start fresh.

**brenda67** · 01-15-2008, 01:57 PM

IMHO..I wouldn't sell it! I don't like change!! If it isn't a financial reason that I wouldn't do it..But again thats just me...If we ever get to buy a home I want one of my children to have so it can be handed down to their future generations.

**nuisance26** · 01-15-2008, 03:46 PM

~Could you possibly rent an apartment near your parents and rent out your home while you take care of your parents? I don't know how old they are and I don't want to be morbid but you can move back if/when they no longer need you. Can they come to live with you? There's no way I'd sell a home I'd built and lived in 30 years. It'd break my heart!~

**forHISglory** · 01-17-2008, 04:01 PM

Yesterday a real estate appraiser came out and went over the house with a fine tooth comb. We had made a hit list of the things we thought we ought to do to get the house ready to sell, but didn't know if these things were practical as far as a pay-off. We gained some excellent advice. He suggested something we had not thought of, so we're going to do that. And most of the items on our list were non-essentials, according to him. He said that although chronological age or actual age was 30 years, the effective age of the home is about 5 years. He explained that meant that the home was in the condition of most homes that are about 5 years old. He suggested that we finish the painting and touch up the stain on the woodwork where little feet over the years have worn away spots. He suggested that we reseal the driveway to give better curb appeal. And that was it! He also said the home was worth about $40,000 more than we had thought. Of course, we'll see what the market will bear!

It was interesting having him go over the home without the emotional baggage that I carry. He saw things from a completely different perspective. I'm still really torn about selling this house, but I guess the appraiser's visit was good news.